module 13: Fire Sprinkler System/Fire Protection Sprinkler System/Sprinkler System

Types of Spacing Arrangements

1. Aligned 2. Staggered or Alternating

Open Sprinkler

A fire sprinkler head with a normally open nozzle.

Automatic Sprinkler

A fire sprinkler with a normally-closed nozzle which can be individually opened by heat by either melting a fusible element or rupturing a liquid-filled glass bulb.

Fire Sprinkler

A nozzle that distributes water in a specific spraying pattern.

Branch/Lateral

A part of the piping system to which fire sprinklers are connected.

Riser

A water main which extends vertically one full storey or more to convey water to individual floor mains and branch lines.

Fire Sprinkler System

AKA Fire Protection Sprinkler System/Sprinkler System; An integrated system of overhead and underground piping, with one or more automatic water supplies, to which fire sprinklers are attached in a systematic pattern.

Sprinkler Head

An outlet nozzle in a fire protection sprinkler system.

special sprinklers

Large Drop, Extended Coverage

Main

The principal artery of a system of continuous piping to which branch lines are connected.

Class D

[Classification of Fires] Fires caused by combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.

Class A

[Classification of Fires] Fires caused by ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.

Class C

[Classification of Fires] Fires involving energized electrical equipment. In such fires, it is important that the extinguishing medium is not a conductor of electricity.

Class B

[Classification of Fires] Fires involving flammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil base paints, lacquers, and flammable gasses.

Extra (High) Hazard

[Classifications of Hazards] Locations where the total amount of Class A and B materials are in storage, production, or other use, etc.

Light (Low) Hazard

[Classifications of Hazards] Locations where the total amount of Class A combustible materials (including furnishings, decorations, and other contents) is of minor quantity.

Ordinary (Moderate) Hazard

[Classifications of Hazards] Locations where the total amount of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables are present in greater amounts than expected under light hazard occupancies.

Halon Extinguishing System

[Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems] Halogenated gas is a generic name for gasses containing the elements of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. The most commonly-used gasses for fire-extinguishing purposes are Halon 1301 and 1211. However, due to their ozone- depleting properties, these gasses have been banned and are being replaced with a number of alternatives. These include: FE-25 (pentafluoroethane), FE-232 (dichlorotrifluroroethane), FE-13 (trifluoroethane), FM-100 (bromodiflluoromethane), and FM-200 (heptafluoropropane).

Portable Fire Extinguishers

[Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems] are deployed as the first line of fire protection. Often, their use is key to averting a major disaster. They are normally precharged with water or chemicals and are hand- operated.

Dry Chemicals

[Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems] are used especially for Class D fires (fires where combustible metals or flammable liquids are a major factor). Most of the dry chemicals deployed contain bicarbonates, chlorides, phosphates, and other proprietary compounds.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing System

[Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems]The carbon dioxide system stores carbon dioxide in a liquid state inside pressurized tanks. When discharged through nozzles, the liquid vaporizes and smothers fire by displacing oxygen.

Fixed Foam System

[Other Types of Fire Protection Systems] are most effective for Class B fires. The foam is made by generators, in which water is mixed with detergent or other chemicals to produce as much as 1000 gallons of foam for each gallon of water. Sprayed from large nozzles, the foam covers the fire, insulating it from oxygen, and cooling down the temperature when water is evaporated from the steam.

Buzzer

[Signal Devices] A device consisting of an electromagnetic coil that (when electric power is applied) will cause a thin metal piece to vibrate.

Horn

[Signal Devices] A device consisting of an electromagnetic coil that will cause a metal diaphragm to vibrate and produce a sound that is then amplified by a horn.

Single Stroke Bell

[Signal Devices] A device containing a bell that is struck once each time electric power is applied.

Vibrating Bell

[Signal Devices] A device containing a bell that rings continuously as long as electrical power is applied.

Siren

[Signal Devices] A device that produces a continuous, high- pitched shrill (up to 10 dB).

Chime

[Signal Devices] A device that produces a pleasing or musical tone each time electrical power is applied.

S x D

[Sprinkler Spacing Design] = 21 sq. m or less, Extra-Light Hazard = 12 sq. m or less, Ordinary Hazard = 9 sq. m or less, Extra-High Hazard

S

[Sprinkler Spacing Design] design spacing of sprinklers on range pipes.

D

[Sprinkler Spacing Design] distance between rows of sprinklers.

S or D

[Sprinkler Spacing Design] max. 4.60 m, Extra-Light Hazard max. 4.0 m, Ordinary Hazard max. 3.70 m, Extra-High Hazard

Fixed Temperature Type

[Thermal Detectors] These detectors are either of self-restoring or non-restoring design. The self-restoring type consists of normally open contact held by bimetallic elements that will close the contacts when the ambient temperature reaches a fixed setting. This setting is generally designed for operations at temperatures of 135°F (57°C), 190°F (88°F), or 200°F (94°C).

Combination Type

[Thermal Detectors] This device reacts to both a fixed temperature and a rate of rise. It may be designed on the principle of differential expansion between two different metals or on the rate of expansion of the air chamber.

Rate of Rise Type

[Thermal Detectors] This sensor reacts to the rate at which the temperature rises. A sealed (but slightly-vented) air chamber within the device expands quickly when the temperature in the vicinity of the device rises quickly.

Deluge Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] A special deluge valve holds back the water from the piping under normal conditions and a separate fire detection system is used to activate the system under fire conditions. The fire detection system opens the deluge valve, which then admits water into the piping network, and water flows simultaneously from all of the open sprinklers.

Exposure Protection System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] A sprinkler system designed to protect the exterior of a building or object from the hazard of exposure to an adjacent fire. Such systems usually employ open sprinklers, although some are fitted with automatic sprinklers.

Multipurpose Piping Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] A system in which the piping serves a non-fire- protection purpose in addition to serving the fire sprinkler system. The piping in the system is used to circulate the water within the building for a series of water source heat pumps.

Large Drop Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] A type of wet-pipe or pre-action sprinkler system that employs large-drop sprinklers; such automatic sprinklers have the special ability of producing large water droplets in their sprays.

Residential Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] A type of wet-pipe sprinkler system that employs residential sprinklers (i.e. a type of automatic sprinkler with special response and distribution characteristics). Residential sprinklers (originally developed for the protection of single-family dwellings) are designed to use a small amount of water to its greatest effectiveness against a growing fire so as to maintain life safety in the room of fire origin.

Wet Pipe Sprinkler

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] Consist of a network of pipes containing water under pressure. Automatic sprinklers are connected to the piping such that each sprinkler protects an assigned area of coverage. Heat applied to any sprinkler will cause that sprinkler to operate, permitting water to discharge over its area of coverage.

Anti freeze Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] This is similar to a wet-pipe sprinkler system, except that the piping contains an anti-freeze solution instead of water. The anti-freeze solutions permitted by the standards are heavier than water.

Pre action Sprinkler System

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] This system is similar to the preceding deluge sprinkler system, except that automatic sprinklers are used instead of open sprinklers. There is no water in the piping under ordinary circumstances. A small amount of air pressure is usually maintained in the piping network as a check on whether the system remains airtight.

Dry Pipe

[Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems] Water is held back from the piping network by a special dry-pipe valve. Under normal conditions, pressurized or nitrogen within the system keeps the dry-valve closed.

Ceiling

[decorative sprinklers] Intended for installation in ceilings, this type includes recessed, flush, and concealed sprinklers.

Recessed

[decorative sprinklers] Pendent sprinklers placed into cups recessed into the ceiling.

Concealed

[decorative sprinklers] Recessed with cover plate.

Fast Response

[special sprinklers] 3.1. Residential 3.2. Quick Response 3.3. Early-Suppression-Fast-Response (ESFR)

Ornamental

[special sprinklers] Painted or plated by manufacturer. 2.1. Plated; 2.2. Painted (factory-applied only)

Dry Sprinklers

[types of sprinklers according to function] Sealed assemblies consisting of a length of air- filled/nitrogen-filled pipe equipped with a special type of coating or plating. 1.1. Dry Pendent 1.2. Dry Upright

Corrosion resistant

[types of sprinklers according to function] Sprinklers intended to resist a corrosive environment. They are provided with a special type of coating or plating.

Intermediate level Sprinklers

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] (in-rack) Pendent or upright type with shield attached.

Old style (Conventional)

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] A type of sprinkler used in the USA prior to the 1950's. Still remains in common use in Europe, installed in either upright or pendent positions.

Upright Type

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] Designed for installation above the piping and protects the floor area below the piping.

Pendent Type

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] Designed to be installed below the piping, with the water stream directed downward against a deflector, a flat-toothed disk that develops the sprinkler's spraying pattern.

Sidewall Sprinkler

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] Designed to discharge a spray pattern resembling one-quarter of a sphere to protect the floor area beneath a fire sprinkler on a wall.

Vertical Sidewall Sprinkler

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] Discharges in a vertical (upward or downward) direction against a deflector.

Horizontal Sidewall Sprinkler

[types of sprinklers according to orientation] Located on sidewalls in which the nozzles discharge in a horizontal direction against a deflector.

Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) System A type of wet

sprinkler system employing ESFR, which is a type of automatic sprinkler with high thermal sensitivity and fire plume penetration.

Smoke Detectors

1. Photoelectric Type 2. Ionization Type